Collapsible tube



Feb. 15, 1944. F. A. WILLIAMS COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed Oct Q 5, 1942 UTwe-n I'or I I rv.

Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Francis A. Williams, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application October 5, 1942, Serial No. 460,915

7 Claims.

The object of this invention is to devise a collapsible tube which may be readily constructed of paper or other non-metallic material, and par- I modified form of tube is constructed;

Fig. 6 a plan view of the partly folded blank; Fig. 7 a front view of the completed tube; Fig. 8 a side view of the same;

Fig. 9 a cross section of the tube with its dis-.

charge end closed; and

Fig. 10 a similar view with the discharge end open.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the difierent figures.

" Referring nowto the tube shown in Figs. 1

to 4, the blank comprises body sections: I, 2, 3, and d and a flap 5, adapted to be folded relative to one another along the dotted lines shown on said blank. The upper ends of these fold lines may, however be formed as actual slits 9 and Ill as shown. Assuming the upper ends of the fold lines are actually slitted, the method of forming the tube is as follows:

The corners I of the section II are foldedinwardly over the section I as indicated in dotted lines, to give the section a pointed end. Alternately this pointed end may be obtained by cutting away these corners l entirely.

The section .l is then folded on the adjacent section 2 and the corners 2 of the latter are folded over the pointed end of section l.

These folded sections l and 2 are then folded over the section 3, and the corners 3 folded over the section 2. The sections i, 2 and 3 are then folded over the section t, and the corners ii are then folded over the section 3. The flap is then folded over the back of the section 3.

The various parts, with the exception of the adjacent faces of the sections l and 2, are secured together by adhesive or other manner to i hold the parts in relative position and to prevent leakage of the contents from the tube.

It will be seen therefore that a container is thus fashioned with a closed upper end and open bottom. Filling will take place through the bottom in a usual manner, the tube usually being inverted during the filling operation. After filling has been completed, the sides of the tube are brought together adjacent the bottom and folded same type as in the other construction.

over as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 to seal the bottom.

It will be noted that the cuts ID are slightly shorter than the cuts 9. It will be seen therefore than when folded unslit portion adjacent the slit Ill overlies the lower end of the slit 9, in ashingling effect, thus avoiding any danger of leakage at the lower end of the slits.

as stated above, in some cases the fold line need not be slitted andin this case the procedure will be to fold over or cut oil? the outer comer I to give the desired inclination to the head of the tube. The section I is then folded on the section 2, and the combined corner I? and 2 folded over the section I to incline the other side of the head. The sections l and 2 are then folded over the sections 3, and the combined corner 2 and 3 are folded over the section 2. These combined sections are then folded over the section 41, the combined corner 3 and t, and also the other corner 4 and the flap 5 folded over the section 3 to complete the tube ready for filing.

When it is desired to use the contents of the tube, the point will be cut away on the line thus forming a small outlet through which the contents may be squeezed as desired in an ordinary manner. To protect the contents and reduce the possibility of accidental escape after the outlet has been formed, the end may be doubled over the line 8, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The doubling over of the corners 2, 3 and 4 and the corners I also if they are allowed to remain, provide stiffening and strength for the top, and also helps to maintain the shape.

In Figs. 5 to 10 a similar form of tube is shown, but with a modified arrangement for opening and closing the outlet. The blank shown in Fig. 5 comprises the wall sections ll, l2, l3 and M and the flap 5%. The upper end of the section it is slitted to form a central tongue l6 and corner tongues it. which are folded over the main section ll, as indicated in dotted lines, and secured together to form a closure member l9, which closure member however, is left free to swing towards or away from said section for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The upper ends of the fold lines between the section are slit in the same manner as-the blank shown in Fig. l which permits the corners Il I2 I3, It, and I5 to be folded over to give the container 9. pointed end of substantially the It will be noted that the lines on which the corners I3 and l2 are folded, cross one another slightly, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when each of said pairs is folded in, there is a slight overlapping of the comers at the apex, thus ensuring a positive closure at said apex. The tube ing.

shown in Figs. 5 to 1.0 is filled and its lower end closed in the same manner as the tube shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

When it is desired to use the contents of the tube the point is cut off on the line id in Fig. 7 immediately above the top of the closure member I! (see Figs. 6, 9 and 10). This closure member l9, it will be noted, may occupy a position lying against the section II of which it is a part, as shown in Fig. 10, or against the section l2 as shown in Fig. 9. When the closure member I! lies against the section II, it permits the contents to be extruded through the opening l8, while if said closure member lies against the opposing section l2, it prevents the passageof the contents through said opening.

The closure member l9 may be manipulated by pressure of the fingers to open or close the openings by transversely concaving one or other side of the head, which operation forces the contents back from the head of the tube. The bending or concaving of the head, so that the hollow is on the outer surface of the side of the head to which the closure member is connected, forces the closure member to hug the inside of the opposite side of the head, while bending or concavlng the head in the opposite direction forces the closure member to hug the inside of that wall to which it is connected. While the concaving of the head is maintained, a slight squeezing of the body of the tube forces the contents back into the pointed head, which material in the one case may pass through the opening for extrusion at the same time holding the closure member firmly against the side of which it is a part, or, in the other case firmly holding the closure member against the opposite side to prevent escape of material through the open- It will be seen that this closure member therefore affords ample protection against accidental discharge of the contents.

The movable closure member may, however, be arranged in other ways, and be of any size as long as it is large enough to close the outlet.

The container may, however, be made of any other sheet material, such as the materials known under the name Cellophane, Pliofilm, or Koroseal."

It will be apparent, of course, in certain cases that it will be desirable to employ extra plies, which may be conveniently done by arranging for additional side sections between the section 4 and the flap 5, and folding over the comers of the extra sections in the same manner as the comers 3 and 4.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A collapsible tube comprising a blank folded upon itself to form a tube body having a plurality of superposed plies, the comers of the head end of each superposed ply of said body being folded inwardly independently of the other plies to form a closed pointed head for said tube, the line of folding the comers of theouter plies being slightly higher than that of the inner plies, the corners of the outer plies being folded in a, way to overlie the joints between the corner portions of the inner plies.

2. A collapsible tube comprising a blank folded upon itself to form a tube body having a plurality of superposed plies, the head end of the form an inwardly directed closure member, ly-

ing between said section and the opposed section, the corners of the head end of the remainder of said ply sections being folded over the adjacent section to provide the tube with a closedpointed head.

3. A collapsible tube comprising a blank folded upon itself to form a tube body having a pinrality of superposed plies, the head end of the section of the inner ply being slit and folded to form an inwardly directed closure member lying between said sectionand the opposed section, the comers of the head end of the remainder of said ply sections being folded over the adjacent section to provide the tube with a closed pointed head, said closure member being adaptedto occupy a position adiacent'the section to which it is attached to allow material to pass between the said sections, or against the opposite section to prevent passage of material there-between.

i. A collapsible tube comprising a blank folded upon itself to form the body of the tube and with one side edge overlapping the other part of the blank, the comers of the head end of the body being folded back to form a cloud pointed head for said tube, said head being adapted to have an outlet formed therein, a movable closure member lying within said head, said closure member being adapted to occupy a position adjacent one surface of the head to allow material to pass through said outlet, or against the opposite surface of the head to prevent passage of material through the outlet.

5. A collapsible tube comprising a blank folded upon itself to form a tube body having a plurality of superposed plies, the head end of the outer ply being folded back to form a closed pointed head for the said tube, and the head end of the inner ply having an inwardly directed closure member hingedly connected therewith, a distance from the apex of the pointed end, said closure member being adapted to lie either against the side of the head to which it is connected or the opposite side of the interior of the head.

6. A collapsible tube comprising a blank folded upon itself to form the body of the tube and with one side edge overlapping the other part of the blank, the comers of the head end of the body being folded back to form a closed pointed head for the tube, and an inwardly directed movable closure member hingedly connected with one side of the interior of said head in spaced relationship to the apex of the head, said closure member being directed inwardly of the head and adapted to be either against the side of the head to which it is connected or the opposite side of the interior of the head.

7. A collapsible tube comprising a blank folded upon itself to form a body and an integral flexible pointed head; an inwardly directed movable closure member hingedly connected with one side of the interior of said head in spaced relationship to the apex of the head, said closure member being directed inwardly of the-head and adapted to lie either against the side of the head to which it is connected or the opposite side of the interior of the head.

. FRANCIS A. WILLIAMS. 

